Favorite Places in Ecuador – Part 1 Maria S. So far, blog posts have primarily been written by permanent or temporary members of the SOLEQtravel team and were based on their experiences, adventures and insights. In the following small blog series, we want to change the perspective. For this purpose, we asked relatives, friends and […]
The desert of Palmira and the colorful market of Guamote – A day trip from Riobamaba. Maria S. That Ecuador is a country with diverse landscapes and that there are various colorful indigenous markets is probably common knowledge. But have you ever heard about the desert of Palmira? Or have you ever been to the […]
The unexplored north of Esmeraldas – A region worth seeing Maria S. The Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas is known to tourists mainly because of its beach and seaside resorts like Atacames, Mompiche or Tonsupa south of the city of Esmeraldas. These places are easy to reach, for example, it takes only about five to six […]
Team excursion to hacienda verde Maria S. Arriving to Hacienda Verde On Saturday two weeks ago, the Quito office team went on a trip to Hacienda Verde near Guayllabamba. We left early Quito in the morning, headed towards Otavalo and turned left after the bridge over the river Pisque, following the path to the protected […]
Recreacional Areas in Cumbaya Maria S. After a two-day trip to Papallacta and a relaxing visit to the spa there, I headed back towards Quito. This time I wanted to take a closer look at Tumbaco and Cumbaya on the way. I had often driven through these two suburbs of Quito, but had not yet […]
Trip to the thermal baths of Papallacta Emilia We took the opportunity last weekend to go on a day trip to the thermal baths of Papallacta and to enjoy the wonderfully warm water of the baths and the nature. We left Quito by car at 8 o’clock in the morning and passed the Cayambe-Coca National […]
New marine reserve in the eastern Pacific Master There is good news for the Pacific: As part of the UN climate summit, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica announced the establishment of one of the largest and most biodiverse marine reserves in the world. This will significantly increase and join already existing protected waters in […]
Ambato and Patate JULIA Most tourists know the small town of Baños, located to the south of Quito on the edge of the rainforest. But not as many people know the places Ambato and Patate, which you can pass on the way there. In the following blog I will write about my weekend in these […]
A day at the Pyramids of Cochasqui DAYANA One of the archaeological sites near the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, are the Pyramids of Cochasqui, which are located at 3100 meters above sea level. From the historic center, you have an 1 hour and 30 minute drive along a first class road. From the […]
From Quitsato to Otavalo – the most beautiful destinations in the province of Imbabura MICHELLE The way to quitsato Last weekend it was time for a new adventure in Ecuador. Otavalo is one of the must-sees here, so we decided to go there. However, since the city is a little more than two hours away […]
quilotoa kayaking MICHELLE Last weekend I decided to do one of the day trips I’ve been dreaming about since the beginning of my stay in Ecuador – visiting Quilotoa Lagoon. In this blog you will learn everything you need to know about the destination itself, how to get there, the costs and things to think […]
Laguna de yambo – discover ecuador’s breathtaking nature MICHELLE Getting to the lagoon My first excursion outside the national capital Quito was to the “Laguna de Yambo” near Latacunga, about two hours away by car. Already the drive there was an adventure. As we left the metropolitan region and it became more rural, the climate […]
Cueva de los Tayos –an unforgettable experience MICHELLE Arriving at cueva de los tayos On May 21 2021, we started our trip to the famous Cueva de los Tayos. On that morning, we were so excited because we didn’t know what to expect. Cueva de los Tayos is situated in the province Morena Santiago of […]
Incredible viewpoint in the Amazon: Mirador Indichuris Angela One of the cities in Ecuador that is considered an ‘entrance to the Amazon’ is Puyo. This city is itself not very interesting, but from here you can start your tour into the jungle. There are plenty of options to book an organized tour, but this blog […]
Hiking around Santa Rita Eco-reserve Angela The SOLEQ.travel team set out to explore an area we did not know yet: Santa Rita Eco-reserve. A beautiful place in the middle of nature, that not a lot of people know about. As our team likes to keep their reputation of true Ecuador experts, we are always looking […]
Adventure tourism in Ecuador: an excursion to Baños SOLEQMASTER Baños de Agua Santa (“The Baths of Holy Water”) is especially known for its hot springs, supposed to have special healing powers. In addition, Baños has become an obligatory destination for adventure tourism with its numerous activities in recent years. This is not least due to […]
Diego, the giant tortoise that ensures the survival of its species in Galapagos Maria Diego, a giant tortoise of the species Chelonidis hoodensis, returns after 80 years to his home island Española, one of the uninhabited Galapagos Islands. In the 1930s Diego was brought to the USA on a scientific excursion and lived the following […]
cuenca-WHAT TO DO Dominik Cuenca is Ecuador’s third largest city. Also it is known for the unique heritage, the churches and the architecture. Herewith comes the Nickname Athens of Ecuador. I wanted to know how the City handles all the expectations.Here I share my experiences with you: How did I get there? Where did I […]
Rainforest in ecuador – tena travelogue Maria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZwiQzmFEv8Tena is known as a rainforest city. The capital of the province Napo is an ideal starting point to explore the Selva, the tropical rainforest in Ecuador. The journey took me to beautiful places of untouched, pristine nature and into the absolute darkness of the Jumandi Caves! How […]
Volcán Ilaló: easy day hike close to Quito Angela The city of Quito has a truly unique location. Not only it has an altitude of 2.850 meters and is very close to the equator: the city is also surrounded by 14 volcanoes. This ensures endless possibilities for spectacular hikes, at just a short distance from […]
Galapagos Cruise Travelogue Dorit Western Galapagos Island Cruise Part II We have already reported on the first days of our Galapagos Cruise. Also the second part of our trip to the western Galapagos Islands was amazing and full of exciting experiences! Puerto Villamil and tortoise breeding centre In the afternoon we drove to Puerto Villamil […]
The Mojanda lagoons SOLEQMASTER Approximately 17 kilometers from the small town of Otavalo in northern Ecuador are the four lagoons of Mojanda. They lie embedded in the spectacular mountain landscape at the foot of the Fuya Fuya volcano. The team of SOLEQ.travel made an excursion to the lagoons of Mojanda. How to get to the […]
Wildlife and Activities in the Mashpi Lodge Ecuador Dorit Hansen How do you get to Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador’s cloud forest? How does Mashpi Lodge contribute to cloud forest protection in Ecuador? And how many waterfalls are there at Mashpi? We answer these questions in the first part of the travel report about Mashpi Lodge. […]
Between Montañita and Puerto López: the southern coast of Ecuador SOLEQMASTER The two small towns of Puerto López and Montañita are about 45 kilometers from one another on the southern coast of Ecuador. The vegetation in this region is similar to that of the Galapagos Islands. On long sandy beaches you can observe crabs, pelicans, […]
Andean bears in the north of Ecuador SOLEQMASTER At 2 pm we started our tour from the office – this time to the north of Ecuador. It will be one of our most diverse excursions! Because from the warm temperatures at Pimampiro in the Valle de Chota at only 1.300 meters the tour led us […]
A Trip from Quito to Patate SOLEQMASTER What do you do in Quito when you’re cold? My mother-in-law is quite “friolenta” – that she feels cold is a permanent condition, so to speak! When she once again complained about the cold in Quito, we decided to take her on a trip to the warmth. Only […]
The Mashpi Lodge – paradise in the cloud forest of Ecuador Dorit Hansen The five-star Mashpi Lodge is located in the middle of the cloud forest of Ecuador. In addition to its luxurious and modern facilities, it offers numerous activities to experience the fascinating nature surrounding the lodge during adventurous explorations. What activities does Mashpi […]
Mindo-WHAT TO DO DOMINIK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH7Fwj5aBTAMindo is often associated with the unique cloud forest, the flora fauna and the adventurous activities. It is even called a paradise for bird lovers and the popular bird watching as well. Soleq.travel set off to Mindo for a weekend and wants to have a look at their own! How did […]
OTAVALO – WHAT TO DO DOMINIK Otavalo is often associated only with the large market that is held there on Saturdays. I wanted to know if there was anything more to discover there and so I set off. Here I share my experiences with you: How did I get there? Where did I stay? How […]
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK WITH THE SOLEQ FAMILY DOMINIK The Soleq Family decided to have a one-day trip to the Cotopaxi National park. I just recently joined them as the new Intern. Therefore, I was excited as they asked me to join them on this trip. During my first two weeks in Ecuador I was exploring […]
NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER Cotacachi Cayapas The Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve is located close to Otavalo. One of the National Parks in Ecuador. A reserve known for the Laguna Cuichocha. Because of a high altitude it offers different biological zones. The national park ranges between 200 to 4000 meters. Here you will find yourself […]
TRAVELING WITH SOLEQ.TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SOLEQMASTER Sustainability has a high value for the SOLEQ family. We participate in certain projects or institutions. The following article talks about some parts of this mission. Read why traveling with SOLEQ.travel is good for the environment! During each voyage with a motorized means of transport, CO2 is […]
A WEEKEND IN BAÑOS SOLEQMASTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy-yo9nkPZc&t=13s What do you know about Baños? What do you know about the so called adventure capital of South America? Do you know about the variety of all the sport activities or the nature? All the answers will be in this article! We will tell you about our weekend in […]
BETWEEN THE CLOUDS – YANACOCHA RESERVE SOLEQMASTER If you thought you’d already seen everything in Quito and believed that there were no new places to go, well, you are wrong! There exists a magical place full of beautiful landscapes with spectacular flora and fauna, hidden among the clouds. And the most important thing is, it […]
A HIKE AROUND THE CUICOCHA CRATER LAKE MARIA On one weekend, when I was in Otavalo, I decided to circle the Cuicocha crater lake – or at least I wanted to try it. I had been there before but never walked around completely. So, this was still on my to do list for Ecuador. Cuicocha […]
ZOO, GUAYARTE AND MANGLARES CHURUTE – A WEEKEND IN GUAYAQUIL MARIA It’s been a while since our last blog entry and first of all we wish you all the best for this new year. We have been pretty busy during the holidays and the first weeks of the year but finally I found some time […]
Tena and Puerto Misahuali – A weekend trip to the edge of the jungle MARIA One Friday after work, I took the trole bus to the Quitumbe bus station in order to get on the bus to Tena. I have seen a lot of places in Ecuador so far but the jungle region was still […]
GALAPAGOS EXPERIENCES – 6 DAYS IN THE ARCHIPELAGO (PART TWO) ALEXANDRA After our three-day adventure on Santa Cruz, seahorse-shaped Isabela island is a real retreat. It is the biggest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, but with a very small population of only approximately 2000 and the small village, actually very small, Puerto Villamil stretching along […]
GALAPAGOS EXPERIENCES – 6 DAYS IN THE ARCHIPELAGO (PART ONE) ALEXANDRA At the beginning of October, Alexandra, our travel advisor, went to the Galapagos Islands for a couple of days with a group of students to oversee logistics. During her time there, she spent 3 days on Santa Cruz island and 3 days on the […]
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ON TWO GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DAYANA The Galapagos Islands are of volcanic origin. This property of the islands can still be felt today. For current reasons, we would like to inform you about the actual situation on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina regarding volcanic activity. This way we hope to eliminate incertitude. About […]
PARKS AND SQUARES – THE GREEN LUNGS OF QUITO SOLEQMASTER The capital of Ecuador is, with around 2.6 million inhabitants, the second largest city in the country. The traffic is immense, as many people move daily to work, to buy or to sell and back home. Especially in south-north direction – in the morning – […]
WATER SPORTS IN GALAPAGOS – A KAYAK EXPEDITION EXPERIENCE SOLEQMASTER One day, I saw a video on TV about a group of people who were making a kayak tour on the sea and I thought, this looks exciting as I like adrenalin and to be alone facing such a marvellous scenery. Finally this eagerly awaited […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART THREE) ESTEBAN I felt a little bit of anxiety since today was our last trekking day to reach the Quilotoa Lagoon and I didn’t want to return to the city problems. The room we stayed at in Mama Hilda was a lot bigger than in […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART TWO) ESTEBAN I woke up very early in the morning, it was cold and after such a great experience outdoors it felt like my room was too small. My room was next to the living room from where I could see the yoga room. I […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART ONE) ESTEBAN One of the most famous destinations in Ecuador, yet not that crowded is the Quilotoa Lagoon. Most travelers like to go there straight and comfortably in a bus or car and take some pictures, but we decided to take a longer way to […]
MY TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS IN MINDO DAYANA When I heard that Mindo is located in the cloud forest, I had no idea what to expect because that should be my first time visiting one. In fact it is a type of evergreen rain forest on an altitude of 900 to 2.500 meters with an enormously […]
ÉL ÁNGEL DAYANA The Ecuadorian Andes offer a great variety of attractions from volcano climbing and hiking to horseback riding, canyoning, rafting or canopy. But there are also lesser known places just as beautiful. One of them is the ecological reserve of El Ángel, close to the Colombian border. Getting there Él Ángel is the […]
FAMILY WEEKEND ESCAPE TO THE COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK CLOSE TO QUITO DAYANA Just an hour and a half driving from Quito heading south there is a special place where you find one of the most visited volcanoes in Ecuador. It is the National Park Cotopaxi, with more than 33 thousand hectares. Another way to get there […]
FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE INCAS IN THE ECUADORIAN ANDES DAYANA Last weekend the SOLEQ.Travel team went on an excursion to the Ecuadorian province Cañar to check out the Inca Trail. Preparation Before our hiking trip there were a couple of things that had to be prepared. First of all we had a meeting with […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA SAN CRISTÓBAL DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands.The current blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on the secluded […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA ISABELA DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands.The current blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on the secluded archipelago […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA SANTA CRUZ DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching a amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands. The following blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – LAST STOP NILS A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual giant. Therefore, it was clear from the beginning that prior preparation is needed. […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – THIRD STOP ILINIZA NORTE NILS A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual giant. Therefore, it was clear from the beginning that prior preparation […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – SECOND STOP IMBABURA NILS A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual giant. Therefore, it was clear from the beginning that prior preparation is […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – FIRST STOP RUMIÑAHUI NILS A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6268 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual giant. Therefore, it was clear from the beginning that prior preparation is […]
LAS CUEVAS DE LOS TAYOS – AN INCREDIBLE CAVE EXPEDITION NILS Last weekend I embarked on an adventure of a life time. Diego and I were investigating options for possible tours on the way from Tena to Loja in eastern Ecuador. During our search we found a tour which offers a three day caving expedition […]
JOURNEY TO PEGUCHE WATERFALL DAYANA A few weeks ago, I made the journey to the most famous waterfall in northern Ecuador, Peguche Waterfall (or Cascadas de Peguche). It is located only 15 minutes from the beautiful market town of Otavalo, and easily accessible by bus or taxi. I decided to take a bus, so I walked […]
YASUNI: PARADISE IN DANGER DAYANA The Yasuni is part of Ecuador’s Amazon region and is among the most biodiverse areas of the world.Read why Yasuni, a part of Ecuadors Amazon Paradise, is in Danger. The Yasuni Because of the unique environment the Yasuni is world famous. Even the UNESCO recognized the Amazon area for its ecological and also cultural […]
THE GALAPAGOS ALBATROSS SOLEQMASTER The waved albatross, also known as the Galapagos albatross, is the only member if the Diomedeidae which is located in the tropical regions. Description These albatrosses are medium sized, measuring 80 to 90 centimeters in length and a possible wingspan of 220 to 250 centimeters. In terms of weight they range […]
CALDERAS IN ECUADOR DAYANA Volcanoes can be threatening. But volcanoes can also be amazing, beautiful, unique, and impressive. Ecuador has one of the highest densities of volcanoes of all countries in the world. Especially the so-called Avenue of the Volcanoes in the Andes of Ecuador is peppered with several volcanoes. Most of them are not […]
ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS WITH KIDS? DAYANA A tour to Ecuador and the Galapagos with kids is quite a big thing when you come from Germany, considering that the international flight takes about 15 hours. As our kids, 4 years and 10 months old, are quite easy, we thought we might try it and we […]
VOLCANOES IN ECUADOR DAYANA Being among the summits of the volcanoes in Ecuador is no doubt an unforgettable experience. Perhaps you don’t know that each mountain is hiding curious legends, and that those have been told by grandparents from generation to generation. We believe that the mountains are not simple land formations, but more than […]
10 HIDDEN ECUADOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS DAYANA Many people who visit our country get to see the typical Ecuador tourist attractions: Quito, the Cotopaxi Volcano, the market in Otavalo, and of course the Galapagos Islands. Of course they are all amazing, but we want to share with you some places that are not very well-known. Check out our team’s […]
THE ANDEAN CONDOR DAYANA The Lion is the king of the animals. The ruler of the land, without any natural enemies. But there is also a lion of the air: the condor. Unchallenged and undisputed. The Andean Condor has also no natural enemy, there is no other species flying around that could challenge the condor […]
HIKING IN THE ANDES OF ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER Thinking about Ecuador the first thing that comes to your mind might be the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon. But at the same time it is also a perfect destination for hikers. In the Andes of Ecuador you find numerous mountains and volcanoes you can climb, suitable not […]
HORSEBACK RIDING FOR BEGINNERS IN ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER A great way to explore Ecuador’s stunning nature is on the back of a horse. There might just be a small problem: some people (like me for example) are not experienced riders. We may have some difficulties to completely trust an animal twice as huge as themselves. But […]
HONEYMOON IN ECUADOR ASTRID Would your perfect honeymoon be in an all-inclusive beach resort, where you do nothing but lie besides the pool the whole day? Then Ecuador is definitely not the destination for you. But if you’re looking for that wonderful combination of romantic hotels, breathtaking landscapes, adventurous activities and marvelous encounters, then a […]
COLOMBIA – A COUNTRY BETWEEN TWO OCEANS DAYANA Being in Ecuador I have always been curious to get to know our neighboring country Colombia. The majority of people who visited loved it there, so we decided to go. Cali Our first stop was Cali – also known as The Capital of Salsa. Arriving there we […]
A MIND(O)BLOWING EXPERIENCE SOLEQMASTER You are addicted to speed, heights and nature? You love the feeling of wind blowing in your face, of rushing down a rapid stream, of being surrounded by lush green hills? Then your next travel destination should definitely be Mindo! This small, charming town in the cloud forest of the Ecuadorian […]
GOOD, BETTER, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS SOLEQMASTER Have you ever seen tortoises as big as you? Have you ever swum with sharks? Have you ever sat on the beach next to sleeping sea lions? Galapagos makes it possible! The Galapagos Islands They emerged around four million years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. They are located […]
HORSEBACK RIDING IN PULULAHUA DAYANA This weekend I decided to do a Horseback Riding Tour in Pululahua with my friends. About one and a half hours away from Quito, in the middle of the Pululahua Volcano’s crater, a wonderful horse ranch is located. It offers fabulous horseback riding tours from one to eight days. How […]
THE PEACEFUL AMAZON RAINFOREST- CUYABENO LODGE DAYANA Welcome to the Amazon Rainforest! Imagine yourself sitting in a canoe, surrounded by sounds of monkeys, insects and birds, feeling the warm sun´s rays on your skin and watching the beautiful untouched nature. You are on the way to Cuyabeno Lodge which is located in the Cuyabeno National […]
The Quilotoa Loop, a hike around the Crater Lake SOLEQMASTER Today we show you one of many impressive destinations for a nice hike in the Ecuadorian Andes. If you are looking for a perfect day trip from Quito, we recommend going to Quilotoa, where you can hike the Quilotoa loop or just hike around the crater […]
Baños – A Place full of Adventures DAYANA Last weekend my friends and I went to Baños, a little town in the Ecuadorian Andes about three and a half hours south of Quito. It is famous for its hot springs, the active volcano Tungurahua and the several adventure activities you can do there. Arriving there […]
Northern Ecuador and a Magical Fores DAYANA Getting to know something new in the beauty of creation always causes indescribable curiosity. This thirst and spirit for adventure evolves, so that I and my friends decided to travel to the Northern Ecuadorian Highlands. First stop: Cayambe The mountains with their amazing natural colors attracted our attention. […]
WHALE WATCHING – AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE DAYANA On the first weekend in September me and my friends from Quito went to Ecuador’s Coast – Puerto Lopez. Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of seeing humpback whales and hoped to have this opportunity during my six-month stay in Ecuador. Arrival in Puerto Lopez […]
ECUADORIAN BIKE ADVENTURE AT MOUNT ANTISANA SOLEQMASTER If you are looking for some challenging adventure and fun, a bike tour to the Antisana, Ecuador’s fourth highest mountain, is a great option. With its 5,704 meters (18,714 feet), it presents one of the most challenging technical climbs and tours in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our tour started […]
PUERTO LOPEZ – A PARADISE ON THE PACIFIC COAST DAYANA Last weekend I wanted to spend some days on the beach and decided to go to Puerto Lopez – a wonderful place on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast that offers a perfect combination of relaxing near the ocean and doing different interesting day activities. When I arrived […]
AN ADVENTUROUS WEEKEND IN MINDO DAYANA Last weekend I decided to go to Mindo. A little, calm village in the cloud forest and about 70 km western from Quito. It is especially known for its unique bird world, like hummingbirds, toucans, parrots and the famous cock of the rock. As well you can do there […]
Ecuador: A Paradise for Bird Watchers ASTRID For being such a small country, Ecuador has an amazing diversity of plants and animals. For bird lovers, Ecuador is a true paradise with a huge variety of birds in the different areas of the country. Recently we went to check out Yanacocha and the area close to […]
Cotopaxi Adventure The Cotopaxi volcano (5,897 m / 19,347 ft.), in the National Park of the same name, is one of Ecuador’s most popular visitors’ sites. Don’t miss the spectacular views on your Ecuador tour! Our intern Fanny went and shares her impressions: “Last Saturday I went on a tour to the Cotopaxi National Park. […]
